LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Like all teenagers, 13-year-old Phoebe White has a lot of schoolwork to do. She’s home-schooled and her mom is the teacher. But as soon as she can break away from the books, she breaks out the guitar and into song.
While other girls her age might tune in to Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, or Drake, Phoebe has a special love for older artists — the ones who put the “western” in Country and western Music.
“Yes, I binge-watch Roy Rogers and Gene Autry movies and I just love them so much,” Phoebe said.
She grew up watching old cowboy movies with her large family of six brothers and sisters and the music was her favorite part. Phoebe taught herself to yodel when she was seven years old.
“I think more people need to learn more about yodeling because you’re doing such a beautiful thing,” she said.
But by the time she was eight, Phoebe was winning singing competitions and performing on stage. She’s even performed with one of the best-known cowboy bands, Grammy-winning Riders in the Sky.
She’s appeared several times on “Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour” and “Woodsongs Kids,” national programs based in Lexington, hosted by Michael Johnathan.
Her mother, who is also her manager, loves to see how audiences react when they hear a young Kentucky girl singing songs of the Old West.
“A lot of times it’s jaw-dropping, it’s mind-blowing,” said Tiffany White. “We’re grateful for all the opportunities that she’s been presented with. It’s been fun to watch.”
Phoebe has an album that’s currently number seven on the western charts and she’s writing her own songs — cowboy songs, of course.
Her career is rising faster than her vocal flips.
“I’ve gotten so used to yodeling now, I don’t mean to do it sometimes. Like when I sing, my voice flips because it’s just so used to yodeling,” Phoebe said.
Phoebe likes all types of music, but often puts a little yodel into other things she sings, such as “Jesus Loves Me.”
She may be an old soul in a young body, but Phoebe said she hopes she’s already blazed her career path and that it’s one full of happy trails.
“Yes, I would love to sing cowboy music for the rest of my life,” she said.
